Drive and control mechanism for washer-extractors



W. W. EGEE Aug. 5, 1958 DRIVE AND CONTROL MECHANISM FORWASHER-EXTRACTORS Filed Nov. 2, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Aug. 5, 1958 w. w. EGEE DRIVE AND' CONTROL MECHANISM FORWASHER-EXTRACTORS Filed Nov. 2, 1954 ATTORNEY.

United States atent D DRIVE AND CONTROL MECHANISM FOR WASHER-EXTRACTORSWalter Warren Egee, Yeadon, Pa., assignor to Fletcher WorksIncorporated, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Thisinvention relates to washer-extractors, i. e. a machine for bringingarticles made of textile fabric into intimate contact with washingand/or rinsing fluids with agitation, and thereafter draining the fluidand removing substantially all the remainder of the fluid by centrifugalextraction.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide improveddriving mechanism for a washer-extractor which is rugged in constructionyet simple and easy to control.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide improvedmechanism for a washer-extractor in which the article containing basketcan be rotated as desired for fluid extraction and in which the baskethas concentrically mounted therein an agitator which can be oscillatedas desired for washing.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide improveddriving mechanism for a washer-extractor of the character aforesaid inwhich a single motor is employed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apparatus ofthe character aforesaid which is particularly suitable for large size orcommercial installations.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide improvedstructure for rapid discharge of the washing and/or rinsing liquids.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will beapparent from the specification and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be morereadily understood from the following description, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical central sectional view of awasher-extractor in accordance with the present invention, takenapproximately on the line 1--1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the washer-extractor shown in Fig; 1;and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of control mechanism for the agitator.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawingsherein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications andchanges may be made in the structure disclosed without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

, Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the washer-extractortherein illustrated preferably includes a base which is resilientlysupported by suspension mountings (not shown) carried by fixedly mountedlegs 11. The base 10 has a cylindrical housing 12 extending upwardlytherefrom with an inwardly extending rim 13 at the top thereof and ahinged cover 14 carried thereby. The base 10 and housing 12, with thecover 14, provide a fluid tight receptacle or container.

2,846,037 Patented,. Aug. 5, 195 8 The base 10 is preferably providedwith one or more suitably controlled drain connections 15 for fluiddelivery from the interior, the drain connectionshaving either or both apump (not shown) connected thereto to aid in liquid removal and suitabledischarge connections (not shown) in accordance with the liquids' to behandled. I v

A driving motor 17 is provided, mounted on the; side of the base 10, andhas a vertical shaft 18 towhich the hub 19 of a pulley 20 is keyed.Thepulley 2 0;l1as a peripheral groove 21, for the reception of a V-belt22, and has extending downwardly therefrom acylindrical clutch flange orrim 23. t r 1 Mounted on bearings 24, carried by. the hub 19,-the hub 25of a main driving pulley 26 is provided. The driving pulley 26 has aplurality of peripheral-grooves 27, for the reception of V-belts 28, andhis a cylindrical clutch flange or rim 29 secured thereto concentricwith and exteriorly disposed with respect to the rim 231. Adiametrically inwardly expansible fluid pressure responsive clutch 30 isprovided on the rim 29, between the rim 23 and the rim 29, and issupplied with pressure fluid through a fluid connection 31 rotatabletherewith and rotatably connected to a fixedly mounted pressure supplyconnection 32.

The belt 22 connects the pulley 20. to a pulleyf33 mounted on a studshaft 34 carried on'the lower part of the base 10. The shaft 34 isconnected through a reducing gear train 35 enclosed within a housing 36and has an output shaft 37 on which a crank plate 38 is carried. Thecrank plate 38 has a crank pin 39 mounted thereon and connected to aconnectingrod40, adjustable in length by threaded sections 41 engaged ina turnbuckle nut 42. The connecting rod is connected at its opposite endto a pin 43 which is mounted on a crank; plate 44. The crank plate 44 isjournaled on a bearing 45 on the hub 46 of a clutch pulley 47. Thepulley 47 is secured onto a main shaft 48 by a key 49, and the innerrace of the bearing 45 is held onto'the hub 46 by a washer 50 and nut-51on the lower endof the shaft 48. The hub 46 has concentrically disposedwith respect thereto a flange or rim 52 and the crank plate 44 hasmounted thereon a rim 53, concentric with and outwardly disposed withrespect to the rim 52. -Mounted on the rim 53, and interposed betweenthe rim 52'andthe rim 53, a diametrically inwardly expansible pressurefluid responsive clutch 55 is provided, which is supplied with pressurefluid through a flexible fluid connection 56.

The shaft 48, above the hub 46, is provided with an axial thrust bearingring 57 and a cylindrical bearing sleeve 58 on which a hollowcylindrical sleeve shaft 59 is mounted. The sleeve 59 has the hub 60' ofa" pulley 61 keyed thereto by a key 62, the pulley 61 being connected tothe pulley 26 by the belts 28. The-hub 60 is held in position on theshaft 59 by a nut 63 in engagement with a threaded lower portion 64 ofthe sleeve 59. The shaft 59 is carried in spaced upper and lowerbearings 64 ad 65 mounted thereon andwithin the interior of a centralhollow cylindrical portion 66 forming part of the base 10.

In order to position the lower bearing 65, the shaft 59 has a shoulder67 and inserts 68 and 69 are secured to and extend inwardly within thecylindricalportion 66. The bearing 64 is similarly positioned by ashoulder70 on the shaft 59 and by inserts 71 and 72 secured to'aridextending inwardly within the cylindrical portion 66, the bearing 64being permitted to move axially alimited distance as required. Lubricantfor the bearings64and 65 can be supplied by a lubricant supply pipe.73which ex:

tends'to a lubricant supply passageway 74 formed in the portion 66 andin the inserts 71 and 72.

The upper end of the shaft 59 has a cylindrical bearing sleeve 75 inwhich the shaft 48.is journaled and an axial thrust beariiigring 76'.

Theshaft 59 has mounted thereon, and held by a nut'77 on athreadedp'ortion78 thereof, a housing portion 79'-of substantiallyfrustoconical shape with a lower outwardly extendingflange80 on which abasket 81 is mounted a'ndheldin any desiredmanner such as 'by rivets 82.The interior of the basket 81 is accessible when the cover 14 1s raisedfor theinsertion of the articles to be washed and otherwise" treated.The basket 81 may be provided with rows of perforations 83 at thedesired levelfor facilitating the discharge of liquid upon rotationthereof.

The shaft 48 has secured thereto, at the upper end thereof, such asbyanend washer 83 and stud 84, the hub 85 of an agitator 86. The lower endof the hub 85 engages the thrust ring 76. The agitator 86-has asubstantially frusto conical casing portion 87, outwardly disposed: withrespectto the housing portion 79 and is provided on the exterior thereofwith a plurality of agitator vanes" 88.

'A brakeband90 is provided, having a brake lining 91 thereon, connectedat one end to a fixed brake arm 92 carried by one of the legs 11 andconnected at the other end by a bracket 93 to a-piston rod 94. Thepiston rod 94 is connected to a piston (not shown) in a brake cylinder95. -The brakecylinder- 95 is adapted to have air under pressuresupplied theretofor brake applicatron.

Mounted: on the piston rod94 and interposed between the; brake cylinder95 and the bracket 93, a compression spring 96 is provided for urgingthe brake band towards :1 released position.

The'brakeband 90'is preferably supported at a plurality of locations byhorizontally slotted brackets 97, carried in the base 10, through whichstuds 98, secured to the band 90 extend. The studs 98 have springs 99engaging the brackets 97 and nuts 100 on the studs 98 which urge thebrake band 90 outwardly to retracted position when it is released.

A brake drum 101 is provided on the pulley 61 above the belt grooves forthe belts 28, for engagement by the brake lining 91 of the brake band 90when it is desired to stop the rotation of the basket 81, as hereinafterexplained.

In order to control the action of the agitator 86, so as to accommodatedifierenttypes of textile fabrics, it is preferred to provide aconnection to a source of air. under pressurewhichisconnected by pipes111, 112 and 113 to adjustable pressure regulator valves 114, 115 and.116, these valves being set at the desired pressure delivery levels.

The valve 114- is. connected through a solenoid controlledvalve. 117which is normally closed, by a pipe 118, to thepipe. 56. The. valve 115is connected through a solenoid controlled valve 119 which is normallyclosed, by. a pipe. 120 to the pipe 56. The valve 116 is connected.throughl asolenoid controlled valve 121 which is normally closed, by apipe 122. A solenoid controlled vent val've.123 is provided which isnormally open and is connected to the. pipe 56. The valves 117, 119 and121 are controlled by a selector switch 124 which through power leads125, 126 and 127, respectively permit of supplying fluid atthe desiredpressure level to the pipe 56. The valve 123 permits of venting theconnection 56, a's'controlled by a switch 128, and its power lead 129.

In order to-provide for rapid discharge or drainage of' the liquidfromthe basket 81', the lower horizontal wall of the basket 81 -has aplurality of valve seat members 130-mountedtherein. The valve seatmembers 130 have central sleeve sections 131 for the reception of valvestems 132. Thevalv'estems-1 32 have valve plates or plugs 4 133 securedon their upper ends and their lower ends have enlarged caps 134.Compression springs 135 mounted on the valve stems 132 between the lowerends of the sleeve sections 132 and the caps 134 normally urge the valveplates 133 to seated position.

A control ring 136 is provided having a side extension 137 pivotallymounted on the base 10 by a pivot 138 and having another opposite sideextension 139 with which an adjustable limit stop 140 mounted on thebase 10 engages.

An air cylinder 141 pivotally connected by a rod 142 to the control ring136 is provided so that upon upward swinging movement of the ring 136 itengages a plurality of the caps 134 located near the extension 139,urges the valve stems 132 upwardly and moves the valve plates 133 fromtheir seats for liquid discharge from the basket 81.

The mode of operation will now be pointed out.

With the desired washing or cleaning liquid' supplied to the housing 12and'the interior of the basket 81, and with the articles of textilefabric to be treated'in the basket 81, the agitator 86 can be oscillatedwhile the basket 81 is substantially at rest.

With the motor 17 running, and turning the shaft 18, the pulley 20,keyed thereto, is also rotated. No pressure is supplied from the fluidconnection 32 so that the clutch 30 is not effective at this time.

The belt 22 drives the pulley 33, and, through the reducing gear train35, the shaft 37 is rotated to rotate the crank plate 38. Rotation ofthe crank plate 38 is effective through the connecting rod 40'f'orimpartingan oscillatory motion to the crank plate 44. If pressure issupplied through the supply connection 56 to the clutch 55, so that therims 53 and 52 are moved together, the oscillatory movement is impartedthrough the pulley 4-7 to the shaft 48 and thereby to the agitator 86and the vanes 88'thereof. The contents of the basket81 will then beagitated to bring the liquid into intimate contact with the articlestherein;

By suitable adjustment of the valves 114, 115 and 116, to' the desiredpressure output, such for example as 20 p. s. i., 30 p. s. i. and 40 p.s. i., and selection of the desired pressure level by the switch 124,the agitator action may be gentle, moderate; or violent, in accordancewith the fabrics to be handled, the slippage at the clutch 55 beingdetermined by the pressure applied thereon.

When the desired agitation has been completed, the

pressure is cut oil from the supply connection 56 and the connection 56vented by the valve 123, so that the clutch 55 disconnects the rims 53and 52. The liquid can then be drained by actuating the air cylinder141, and moving the ring'136toa position to move the valve plates 133 toopen position. Another liquid or liquids is supplied for rinsing, ifdesired; with agitation as before.

After the liquid has been drained from the housing 12, by actuation ofthe air cylinder 141 as previously indicated, pressure is suppliedthrough the fluid connection 32 and the fluid connection 31 to theclutch 30 so that the rims 29 and 23 are moved together. The pulley 26,through the belts 33 drives the pulley 61, the brake band 99 beingreleased prior to the supplying of pressure to the clutch 30.

Rotation of the pulley 61 effects rotation of. the shaft 59 in thebearings 64 and 65 and the basket 81. is thus rotated at high speed forthe centrifugal extraction of the liquid remaining in the articles inthe basket 81. The openings 83 facilitate the discharge of the liquidfrom'the interior of the basket 81 and the articlestherein.

Upon the completion of the extraction of the liquid, the pressure is cutoff fromthe clutch 30 and the brakebaud 91 can then be tightened againstthe drum 101 to bring the basket 81 to rest.

The articles in the basket 81 can then be removed, other articlesintroduced, andthe working cycle repeated.

I claim:

1. In combination, a base, a motor mounted on said base and having avertically disposed drive shaft, a first pulley secured to said motorshaft, 21 second pulley rotatably mounted with respect to said firstpulley, a clutch for connecting said pulleys for rotation together, afirst member rotatable with respect to said base, a second membermovable with respect to said first member, a vertical shaft spaced fromsaid drive shaft having the said second member mounted on the upper endthereof, a hollow shaft within which said vertical shaft is journaled towhich said first member is connected for rotation therewith, said basehaving an upwardly extending hollow cylindrical portion within whichsaid hollow shaft is journaled on spaced bearings, a pulley secured tosaid hollow shaft, belts connecting said hollow shaft pulley and saidsecond pulley, a driving member secured to said vertical shaft, a firstcrank member journaled on said driving member, a clutch for connectingsaid first crank member and said driving member in driving relation, asecond crank member connected to said first crank member and driventhereby, an intermediate shaft vertically disposed, a fourth pulley onsaid intermediate shaft connected to said first pulley by a drivingbelt, a speed reducing mechanism operated by said intermediate shaft andhaving an output shaft, a third crank member connected to said outputshaft, and a connecting rod connecting said second and third crankmembers.

2. In combination, a base, a motor mounted on said base and having avertically disposed drive shaft, a first pulley secured to said motorshaft, a second pulley rotatably mounted with respect to said firstpulley, a fluid pressure operated clutch for connecting said pulleys forrotation together, a first member rotatable with respect to said base, asecond member movable with respect to said first member, a verticalshaft spaced from said drive shaft having said second member mounted onthe upper end thereof, a hollow shaft within which said vertical shaftis journaled and to which said first member is connected for rotationtherewith, said base having an upwardly extending hollow cylindricalportion within which said hollow shaft is journaled on spaced bearings,a pulley secured to said hollow shaft, said hollow shaft pulley having abrake drum thereon, a brake band for engagement with said brake drum,belts connecting said hollow shaft pulley and said second pulley, adriving member secured to said vertical shaft, a first crank memberjournaled on said driving member, a clutch for connecting said firstcrank member and said driving member in driving relation, a second crankmember connected to said first crank member and driven thereby, anintermediate shaft vertically disposed, a fourth pulley on saidintermediate shaft connected to said first pulley by a driving belt, aspeed reducing mechanism operated by said intermediate shaft and havingan output shaft, a third crank member connected to said output shaft,and a connecting rod connecting said second and third crank members.

3. In combination, a base, a motor mounted on said base and having avertically disposed drive shaft, a first pulley having a hub secured tosaid motor shaft, a second pulley journaled on said hub, a clutch forconnecting said pulleys for rotation together, a first member rotatablewith respect to said base, a second member movable with respect to saidfirst member, a vertical shaft spaced from said drive shaft having saidsecond member mounted on the upper end thereof, a hollow shaft withinwhich said vertical shaft is journaled and to which said first member isconnected for rotation therewith, said base having an upwardly extendingportion within which said hollow shaft is journaled on spaced bearings,a pulley secured to said hollow shaft, said hollow shaft pulley having abrake drum thereon, a brake band for engagement with said brake drum,belts connecting said hollow shaft pulley and said second pulley, adriving member secured to said vertical shaft, a first crank memberjournaled on said driving member, a clutch for connecting said firstcrank member and said driving member in driving relation, a second crankmember connected to said first crank member and driven thereby, anintermediate shaft vertically disposed, a fourth pulley on saidintermediate shaft connected to said first pulley by a driving belt, aspeed reducing mechanism operated by said intermediate shaft and havingan output shaft, a third crank member connected to said output shaft,and a connecting rod connecting said second and third crank members.

4. In combination, a housing, a first member rotatable with respect tosaid housing, a second member movable with respect to said first member,a motor, members connected to said motor for rotating said first member,members including a fluid pressure operated clutch for moving saidsecond member, and members for controlling said clutch and therebycontrolling the char acter of movement of said second member including aconnection to a source of fluid under pressure, a plurality ofadjustable valves connected to said connection and to said clutch forregulating the pressure of fluid from said connection to said source ata plurality of pressure levels, and selector means for said valves.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,850,138 Raill Mar. 22, 1932 2,331,699 Kirby Oct. 12, 1943 2,331,700Kirby Oct, 12, 1943 2,485,622 Bariffi Oct. 25, 1949 2,639,618 McNairyMay 26, 1953 2,652,710 De Remer Sept. 22, 1953 2,665,575 Cockerill etal. Jan. 12, 1954 2,699,683 Castner Jan. 18, 1955

